The Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR) is dedicated to advancing civil rights and fundamental freedoms for all Canadians and promoting a common culture based on fairness, understanding, and humanity. Recognizing Canada as a beautiful mosaic of diverse cultures and people, FAIR supports pro-human beliefs that value the unique identities and common humanity of every person, regardless of their viewpoints or immutable traits such as skin colour, ancestry, ethnicity, or religion.
Recently, a troubling incident involving a public school teacher surfaced on social media. The teacher is heard criticized Muslim students for not attending a school Pride event. (Note: publishing a recording, without the subject’s consent, is also problematic). FAIR finds the recordings concerning, as the teacher admonishes students for exercising their religious rights, protected by our Charter of Rights & Freedoms. Furthermore the teacher urged students to “educate” their parents on integrating LGBTQ acceptance into the practice of Islam. While the teacher’s intentions may be well-meaning, it is not the role of a teacher to demand students violate their religious or family beliefs.
FAIR Ontario takes issue with the implication that opting out of contentious school events signifies “hatred” worthy of “disgust,” as expressed by this teacher. FAIR advocates for pro-human values like tolerance, but the tone and content of the recording do not reflect such generosity. The teacher presented a zero-sum equation, suggesting that one set of beliefs cannot coexist with another. However, acknowledgment without participation is a valid option ~ we can recognize the value or another community, and respect their rights to peace, dignity, and legal protection without participating in their events
An opportunity was missed to evaluate how Pride events might be received by religious, and non-religions students. FAIR firmly believes in the universality of civil rights, recognizing that LGBTQ people have civil rights as do Muslim students, and truthfully, all students. One person’s rights as a member of a protected class do not cancel out the rights of others in different protected classes. Finding shared values and emphasising our common humanity, is an ideal to strive for, while leaving room for respectful disagreement.
FAIR acknowledges that people may hold personal beliefs in error, and it takes compassion and grace to allow individuals to evolve their positions. The organisation appreciates Northwood Principal Dustin O’Neil for stating that the teacher’s words do not reflect the school’s values. FAIR hopes that all educators across Ontario, and Canada, will promote pro-human values of curiosity and humility while uplifting our common humanity. Living together and acknowledging shared values without total conformity is the essence of civil society.
